Harshavardhana (606 – 647 A.D.)

Ancient History

Harshavardhana (606–647 CE) was a powerful ruler of the Vardhana dynasty, based in Thanesar and later Kannauj. After the death of his brother Rajyavardhana, Harsha ascended the throne and united much of North India.

His empire stretched from Punjab to Bengal but could not conquer Deccan due to defeat by Pulakeshin II. Harsha was a patron of arts, culture, and religion, supporting Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism. The Chinese pilgrim Xuanzang visited Harsha’s court and praised his just administration. He organized great religious assemblies like the Kannauj assembly and the Prayag gathering. Harsha authored Sanskrit plays such as Nagananda, Ratnavali, and Priyadarshika. He maintained diplomatic relations with China through envoys. After his death without an heir, his empire quickly fragmented.

Harsha's reign is seen as a last phase of political unity in North India before the early medieval period.

Sources of Information

1. Literature

Harshacharita: written by Bana (court poet of Harsha).
Travel accounts of Hiuen Tsang: Chinese traveler who visited India in the seventh century A.D.
Dramas written by Harsha: Namely Ratnavali, Nagananda and Priyardarsika also provide useful information.

2. Inscription

Madhuben plate inscription and the Sonpat inscription are also helpful to know the chronology of Harsha.
Banskhera inscription contains the signature of Harsha.

Early life of Harsha

The founder of the family of Harsha was Pushyabhuti. Pushyabhutis were the
feudatories of the Guptas. They called themselves Vardhanas. After the Hun invasions they assumed independence. According to Banabhatta the founder king of this dynasty at Thaneshwar was Pushyabhuti and that the family was known as Pushyabhuti Vamsa.
The first important king of the Pushyabhuti dynasty was Prabhakaravardhana. His capital was Thaneswar, north of Delhi. He assumed the title Maharajadhiraja and Paramabhattaraka.
Thaneshwar, during this time (about 604) was threatened by the Hunas from the
western side.
Banabhatta has described Prabhakarvardhana as "a lion to the Huna deer".
According to him an army under Rajyavardhana was sent to defeat the Hunas but due to the sudden illness of his father he had to come back.
With Prabhakarvardhana's death, the family had to face troubled times for a while.
The Malaya king Devagupta killed Grahavarman and took Rajyasri prisoner. The Malaya and the Gauda kings entered into alliance and even Thaneshwar was threatened.
Rajyavardhana defeated the Malavas but was killed through treachery by Sasanka, the Gauda king and Harsha succeeded his brother at Thaneswar.
His first responsibility was to rescue his sister and to avenge the killings of his brother and brother-inlaw. He first rescued his sister when she was about to immolate herself.

Harsha’s Era

During Harshavardhana’s rule, Kannauj was conquered and united with Thaneswar.
Harshavardhana attacked Shashank of Gauda Kingdom and established his control over regions of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha and befriended Bhashkarvarman of Kamrup (Assam).
Vallabhi King Dhruvbhata in Gujrat too was defeated and a truce was negotiated
with him by marriage of Harsha’s daughter to Dhruvbhata.
He assumed titles of Uttarapathanatha or Uttarapathapati (Lord of the North).
While marching southwards, Harshavardhan conquered regions of Malawa and after crossing Narmada he was defeated by Pulkeshin II in the Battle of Narmada.
Harshavardhana was greatly influenced by the personality of Hieun Tsang and organized a Buddhist assembly at Kannauj under his chairmanship.
Hieun Tsang, in his book, has appreciated Harshvardhan’s justice and munificence (generosity).
Harshavardhan, the able military commander and good administrator, died in 647 CE without heir and is regarded as the last Hindu King to have ruled large part of North India.
Hence, his death also marks the end of Pushyabhuti dynasty and beginning of Muslim rule over North India.

Salient Features of Harshavardhana

Administration

Harsha governed his empire on the same lines of Gupta. The basic unit of administration was a village.
The king was just in his administration and punctual in discharging his duties
He made frequent visits of inspection throughout his dominion.
Offices under the king became hereditary as Harisena who was a
‘mahadandanayaka’, or Chief Judicial Officer inherited the office from his father.
One person could bear more than one office as Harisena also held offices of ‘Kumaramatya’ and ‘Sangrahvigrahika’
The ‘sreshti’ (Chief Banker or Merchant), the ‘sarthavaha’ (Leader of Merchant Caravans), ‘prathamakulika’ (Chief Craftsman), and the ‘kayashthas’ (head of the scribes) were other important officers of Harsha’s administration.
Maintenance of Public Records is important feature of Harsha rule. The archive of the Harsha period was known as nilopati and it was under the control of special officers
Military: Harsha's army consisted of the traditional four divisions: foot, horse, chariot and elephant.

Taxation

One sixth of the produce was collected as land tax.
Taxes imposed on ports, income from mines and tributes from vassals were other important revenue sources.
Bhaga, Hiranya and Bali were the three kinds of tax collected during Harsha’s reign.
Bhaga was the land tax paid in kind. One-sixth of the produce was collected as land revenue. Hiranya was the tax paid by farmers and merchants in cash. There is no reference to the tax Bali.

Society

According to Hiuen-Tsang, there were castes, a mix of sub-castes, untouchables and also outcastes, yet, forced labour was absent.
The position of women declined during this period as the institution of Swyamvara (the ceremony of choosing husband) had become dysfunctional.
Widow remarriage was not allowed and Sati and dowry system were prevalent.

Economy

The trade and commerce had declined during Harsha's period.
This is evident from the decline of trade centres, less number of coins, and slow
activities of merchant guilds.
The decline of trade in turn affected the handicrafts industry and agriculture.
Since there was no large-scale demand for goods, the farmers began to produce only in a limited way. This led to the rise of self-sufficient village economy.
There was a sharp economic decline as compared to the economy of the Gupta period.

Religion

As Harshavardhan was a secular king, all sects of religion peacefully coexisted but Brahmanism grew more than others.
Harshvardhan was Shiva devotee. Later he converted to Mahayana Buddhism.
Harsha prohibited the use of animal food in his kingdom and punished those who kill any living being.
He erected thousands of stupas and established travelers' rests all over his kingdom.
He also erected monasteries at the sacred places of Buddhists
He brought the Buddhist monks together frequently to discuss and examine the Buddhist doctrine.

Kannauj Assembly

Harsha organized a religious assembly at Kanauj to honor the Chinese pilgrim
Hiuen Tsang towards the close of his reign.
He invited representatives of all religious sects. The Assembly went on
continuously for 23 days.
Hiuen Tsang explained the values of Mahayana doctrine and established its superiority over others. However, violence broke out and there were acts of arson.
There was also an attempt on the life of Harsha. Soon, it was brought under control and the guilty were punished.

Allahabad Conference

According to Hieun Tsang, Harsha held Allahabad conference once in 5 years.
Harsha gave away his enormous wealth as gifts to the members of all religious sects.

Art and Culture

The art and architecture of Harsha's period are very few and mostly followed the Gupta style. Hiuen Tsang describes the glory of the monastery with many storeys built by Harsha at Nalanda. He also speaks of a copper statue of Buddha with eight feet in height. The brick temple of Lakshmana at Sirpur with its rich architecture is assigned to the period of Harsha.
A patron of art and literature, Harshavardhan patronized the Banabhatta, Mayura, Matanga Divakara etc.
Banabhatta wrote – Harshacharita, Kadambari & Parvatiparinay.
Harsha was a poet and composed three Sanskrit plays: Nagananda, Ratnavali, and Priyadarsika.

Nalanda University

The term Nalanda means “giver of knowledge”. It was founded by Kumaragupta I during the Gupta period. It was patronised by his successors and later by Harsha.
The professors of the University were called panditas. Some of its renowned professors were Dingnaga, Dharmapala, Sthiramati and Silabadhra.
Dharmapala was a native of Kanchipuram and he became the head of the Nalanda University.
Though it was a Mahayana University, different religious subjects like the Vedas,
Hinayana doctrine, Sankhya and Yoga philosophies were also taught.
In addition to that, general subjects like logic, grammar, astronomy, medicine and art were in the syllabus.
It attracted students not only from different parts of India but from different countries of the east.

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